Horsham people are outraged that a Romanian-born surgeon, general practitioner and skin specialist working in town has had her permanent residency visa rejected because she is 53 and 'too old' to qualify. Hear from Dr Guguila and one of her patients, and hear the Immigration Department explain why there is 'nothing that would enable her to become a permanent resident'.

Horsham may lose one of its most passionate and highly qualified doctors after she was told by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship that at 53 years of age, she is too old to qualify for permanent residency visa.

Speaking with Nicole Chvastek on ABC Statewide Drive, Dr Mihaela Guguila said she was "terribly surprised" and was hospitalised for severe stress when she was told her application for permanent residency would be rejected.

Romanian-born Dr Guguila is a qualified surgeon, general practitioner and skin specialist.

She has been working in Horsham for a year, where she was planning to settle down before finding out she was not eligible for a permanent residency visa.

"Actually I don't know what I am going to do... I am so willing to stay in this place, I've got a house, I have friends, I have colleagues that are like family to me," Dr Guguila says.

Department of Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Sandi Logan told Nicole Dr Guguila's situation was a "compelling case" but that under the current visa rules "...there's nothing that would enable her to become a permanent resident."

Horsham mother of three Lee-anne Rigby says the Department's response is "really shameful... they need to come and live in a country town where we can't get qualified doctors, let alone someone as experienced as Mihaela."

Ms Rigby says Dr Guguila is "...friendly, she's outgoing, full of energy, you know she's an exciting person, she's just a lovely person."

"To lose a doctor... is really upsetting. We've got two other doctors in Horsham wanting to retire but we can't get anyone to fill their positions. We've got a doctor wanting to be in Horsham, and they're saying nup, she's got to go back to London."

Under the current visa rules, the only option available to Dr Guguila is a 457 visa, which would allow her to stay in Australia for four more years.

But Dr Guguila says she cannot put her life on hold for four years if at the end of that time she may be forced to uproot and leave Australia at the age of 58.

The current visa Dr Guguila is living under will expire in May 2014. Dr Guguila is appealing to the Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor to consider her unique situation and intervene.

"In order to be fully qualified in all the specialities of mine, we need time, we need time to practice, we need time to pass all exams. So I am 53, I am full of life...I have another twenty years to give...to this wonderful community."

The ABC Statewide Drive program has contacted the office of Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor and is awaiting comment.